25 Common WordPress Mistakes to Avoid for a Successful Website
Hey, I am Lula.
WordPress is considered one of the world's most popular content management systems (CMS), powering masses of websites on the internet.
WordPress is easy to use and accessible and provides a vast selection of themes and plugins that allow you to personalize your website.
However, there are common mistakes that users can make when using WordPress that can negatively affect their websites. I am listing 25 of them.
Manually Updating WordPress or Plugins
WordPress and its plugins are constantly updated with new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. Updating WordPress and its plugins as soon as they become available ensures your website is secure from security threats and compatibility issues with other plugins.
Using Too Many Plugins
While plugins can be helpful, too many can slow down your website. Only install the plugins you need and regularly review your plugins to remove any that you no longer use.
Not Deleting Unused Themes
New themes can occupy your website's server space and may contain security vulnerabilities. Regularly review your website's themes and delete any you no longer use. A backup theme is advisable in case the current one malfunctions.
Choosing a Poorly Coded Theme
Your website's theme is responsible for its appearance and functionality. A poorly coded theme can lead to slow loading times, compatibility issues, and security vulnerabilities; instead, choose a theme from a reputable source.
Not Using a Responsive Theme
A responsive theme is a theme that adjusts its layout and design to fit different screen sizes and devices. Failing to use a responsive theme can result in a poor user experience and reduced traffic from mobile devices. Use a responsive theme that provides a good user experience on all devices.
Not Backing Up Your Website
Website backups are essential in case of a data loss or security breach. Failing to back up your website can result in the loss of valuable data and damage your website's reputation. You can use a backup plugin to regularly create backups of your website's data and store them securely.
Not Creating Regular Content
Regularly generating new and exciting content is crucial to attracting visitors to your website. Failing to create regular content can result in a static website and reduced traffic. To ensure consistent content creation, develop a strategy incorporating blog posts, videos, podcasts, or other relevant content formats, and follow a set publishing schedule.
Ignoring SEO
Good SEO is essential to get more people to visit your website naturally. Failing to optimize your website for SEO can result in low search engine rankings and reduced traffic. Use an SEO plugin and regularly optimize your website's content for search engines.
Not Optimizing Images
Images can significantly impact your website's loading time. Failing to optimize images can result in slow loading times and poor user experience. Before uploading images to your website, it's best to compress and resize them.
Not Optimizing Your Website for Mobile Devices
Optimizing your website for mobile use is essential due to the rising number of people accessing the internet through mobile devices. Doing so, ensures a better user experience. Use a responsive theme, test your website on mobile devices, and optimize your content for mobile users.
Not Using Analytics
Website analytics provide valuable insights into your website's performance, including traffic sources, user behavior, and conversion rates. Not utilizing analytics can make comprehending how users engage with your website challenging. Use a website analytics tool like Google Analytics and regularly review your website's performance.
Not Optimizing Your Website's Speed
Website speed is critical for providing a good user experience and improving search engine rankings. Failing to optimize your website's speed can result in slow loading times and reduced traffic. Use a caching plugin, optimize your images, and reduce the number of plugins you use.
Ignoring Accessibility
Website accessibility ensures all users, including those with disabilities, can access your website. Not making your website accessible can lead to legal problems and a negative user experience. Use an accessibility plugin, use descriptive alt text for images, ensure your website is keyboard accessible, and follow accessibility best practices.
Not Creating a Contact Form
A contact form allows users to contact you directly from your website. Creating a contact form to make it easier for users to get in touch with you may result in missed opportunities. Use a contact form plugin to complete a contact form that includes fields for users to enter their name, email address, and message.
Not Creating Custom Permalinks
Permalinks are the URLs users see when they access your website's pages and posts. Failing to create custom permalinks can result in long, confusing URLs that are difficult for users to remember and share. Create custom permalinks that include keywords related to your content and are easy for users to remember.
Not Using Social Media Integration
Social media is crucial for marketing your website and fostering engagement with your audience. Failing to use social media integration can result in missed opportunities. Use a social media plugin to integrate your website with your social media accounts and include social sharing buttons on your website's pages and posts.
Not Optimizing Your Website for Voice Search
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular, so optimizing your website for voice search is essential for staying ahead of the competition. Failing to optimize your website for voice search can result in reduced traffic and missed opportunities. Use conversational language in your content, include long-tail keywords, and use structured data to help search engines understand your content.
Not Creating a Custom Favicon
When users visit your website, a favicon is a tiny icon in the browser tab. Failing to create a custom favicon can result in a generic icon that doesn't stand out and may make your website appear unprofessional. Create a custom favicon that reflects your brand and is easily recognizable.
Not Using a Custom Domain Name
A custom domain name is essential for establishing your brand and making it easy for users to remember and find your website. Failing to use a custom domain name can make your website appear unprofessional and make it difficult for users to place your website's address. Use a custom domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember.
Not Creating a Custom Login URL
By default, the WordPress login page is located at yourdomain(.)com/wp-login.php, which makes it easy for hackers to target your website. If you don't create a custom login URL, your website's security may be compromised by hackers who find it easier to target. Use a security plugin that provides login protection, limits login attempts, utilizes two-factor authentication, and creates a custom login URL.
Not Using SSL
The SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol is a security measure that encrypts data communication between a user's browser and the server hosting your website. Failing to use SSL can result in a website that is vulnerable to security threats and may cause compatibility issues with other plugins. Use SSL to secure your website and protect your users' data.
Not Including Clear Calls-to-Action
Including calls-to-action (CTAs) is crucial in directing users towards a particular action, such as subscribing to a newsletter or making a purchase. Omitting clear CTAs can result in a poor user experience and missed opportunities. Include clear and visible CTAs on your website's pages and posts encouraging users to take specific action.
Not Using an Email Marketing Service
Email marketing is essential for engaging with your audience and promoting your website. Failing to use an email marketing service can result in missed opportunities and a lack of engagement with your audience. Use an email marketing service to create and send email campaigns, and include opt-in forms on your website to encourage users to subscribe to your email list.
Not Customizing Your Website's Footer
Your website's footer is essential for providing information and links to your users. Failing to customize your website's footer can result in a lack of knowledge and a poor user experience. Customize your website's footer to include important information such as your contact information, social media links, and copyright information.
Not Including Social Proof
Social proof is a highly effective marketing strategy that utilizes social signals, such as customer reviews, testimonials, and social media mentions, to establish trust and credibility with your target audience. Failing to include social proof can result in a lack of confidence and missed opportunities. It's a good idea to feature customer reviews and testimonials on your website. You can also encourage people to share their experiences with your products or services on social media.
To achieve a successful website that is user-friendly and meets your needs, it's essential to avoid common mistakes. To keep visitors coming back, it's important to focus on attracting and retaining them with a high level of quality.
(This is in no way a complete guide.)
Thanks, you all - Wishing you well, continued success, and a terrific day!
Lula
@CountessCtry
The Country Countess
Recent Comments
28
Thank you, Slavka! Glad you found the post topic well-covered. Let me know if there's anything else you need help with or want to discuss further.
A very thorough post and well drafted.
My biggest concern at the moment is bill C-11 from the Canadian Government and how or if it will impact on our business. Apart from how I feel about this bill our businesses have the possibility of censorship if not closing of the same if the Canadian Government does decide to enforce what is now law.
Stephen
Thank you for your comment, Stephen. I'm happy to hear that you found it helpful. I understand that Bill C-11 can be problematic for businesses like ours, but it's essential to stay informed about any changes in laws and regulations that may impact us. You might want to contact industry associations or legal professionals specializing in the affected areas for guidance and support. They can give you more information and help you prepare for potential impacts on your business. Best of luck to you, and I hope this issue doesn't harm our businesses.
Wow, that's quite a comprehensive list! Have you considered expanding it to cover even more ground? For instance, providing recommendations with images, discussing backup plugins, or explaining how to use specific functionalities in more detail. Each point you've mentioned could easily be the topic of a whole blog post. Of course, this would be more relevant if you specialize in this particular niche. These are just my observations, but I must say, great job overall!
Abie, thank you for your feedback and suggestions! I appreciate your interest in the topic and your thought in your response. Expanding the list to cover more ground is a great idea, and I will consider it. I agree that each point could be the topic of a whole blog post, and that is something I will keep in mind when creating content in the future. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts and for the kind words.
You're welcome Ellissa! I'm glad you found the insights helpful. If you have any further questions or need clarification on anything, feel free to ask.
I am having difficulty comprehending this. It is beyond my current level of understanding. Can you explain it to me?
You're welcome, Ellissa! I'm glad you found the insights helpful. If you have any further questions or need clarification on anything, feel free to ask.
This is a great post. I know that I do not produce enough content. I am going to look into the use of a favicon. I had not even heard of that until I read this article.
Jim
Glad you found the post helpful, Jim! Consistent content creation is critical to engaging with your audience and keeping your website current. A custom favicon can also add a professional touch and make your site memorable. Good luck with your website!
I'm sorry, donuts are not something I can provide. Nonetheless, I appreciate your kind words about my content. Is there anything else I can assist you with at this time?
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Thanks Lula for the info , what is your advice on us who are under wealthy affiliate .How best can we make sure that we do not fall prey to some of the points you have raised